Natural radionuclides and dose estimation in natural water resources from Elba protective area, Egypt

The concentrations of the natural radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in 15 different water samples from Elba protective area, south-eastern desert of Egypt, have been determined using NaI(Tl) detector. Gamma ray spectrometric analysis was performed and the concentrations obtained for each of the radionuclides expressed in Bq l−1 ranging from 1.6 to 11.1 for 226Ra, 0.21 to 0.97 for 232Th and 9.1 to 23 for 40K. A reasonable correlation was found between 226Ra, 232Th concentrations and pH, although no general trend was observed with conductivity and total dissolved solids. The mean effective doses of 0.56 mSv y−1 for 226Ra, 0.065 mSv y−1 for 232Th and 0.04 mSv y−1 for 40K were estimated for the ingestion of these waters by adults.